Car jacks top list of deadly products

Almost thirty deaths have been caused by the incorrect use of car jacks in the past six years, according to figures held by the national coroner. By JORDAN BAKER.

Car jacks top list of deadly products

08 Apr 2008Jordan Baker

The car jack has become one of the most dangerous products on the market, with coroners' figures showing more than a third of deaths blamed on broken or mishandled products were due to wrongly used jacks.

Between 2000 and 2007 81 deaths in Australia were linked to misused, badly maintained or faulty consumer products. Of those, 29 involved the incorrect use of car jacks, data from the National Coroners Information System shows.

Another 19 deaths involved other vehicle equipment, such as faulty brakes - which led to six deaths - seat belts, LPG tanks and petrol caps. Nine children died due to broken or misused prams, strollers, or baby baths.

Three people were killed by faulty gas heaters, and two deaths were blamed on poorly maintained air-conditioners. Two people died in spa baths, including a young girl whose long hair was sucked into the bubble jets.

The report from the National Coroners Information System showed 2002 was the worst year, with 21 deaths. The study did not encompass all product-related deaths, as some were not classified as such on the system.

Most vehicle equipment deaths were blamed on poor maintenance, but the car jack-related deaths were all due to misuse. Some victims used them to work under their cars, and some chose jacks that were too flimsy for their vehicle.

In some cases they used car jacks to work under trucks, boats or caravans. The vehicles fell or rolled, crushing or suffocating them. All were men, aged between 30 and 60, and most were working at home.

In one case a man used jacks despite written warnings. He took safety precautions but "his jacks were not appropriate for working beneath the car and there was nothing to prevent the vehicle rolling back slightly", the coroner found.

In another, a man failed to secure the car so it rolled forward, fell off the wooden blocks and landed on him.

Deaths were most common in Victoria, followed by NSW.

Jack Haley, the manager of motoring research at the NRMA, said accidents could be easily avoided. "Using a non-approved jack is one problem, as is using some equipment that's not designed for lifting vehicles or not using proper stands ... People shouldn't get under a vehicle until it's securely raised. Even a light vehicle is 800 or 900 kilos. Obviously you shouldn't use a jack beyond it's weight capability."

Coroners also issued grave warnings about the use of prams, cots and baby baths. The five baby bath deaths were blamed on "risk-taking behaviour", involving parents who mistakenly believed they could leave their baby in the water unsupervised.

One cot death was due to inexperienced parents' ignorance of the dangers presented by cots that were not in their original condition.

Thee Victorian coroner Graeme Johnstone said the baby's death "highlights the necessity to educate forthcoming parents, grandparents and carers ... of the danger in purchasing second-hand nursery equipment".